POROSHENKO. He was announced the winner and, as I predicted, Washington, its followers and the OSCE happily accepted the result. Some people are a little surprised that Moscow is calling him “President” but that is because they don’t understand. Moscow is well aware that Poroshenko is Washington’s nominee and also aware that at the present circumstances, only such could appear. But there’s no point in being all high and mighty: if a neighbouring country wishes to toss its constitution (read Art 111), it still has to be dealt with. Will he make any difference? I’m sceptical of his “ceasefire” but we will see.

POLITKOVSKAYA MURDER. The court has sentenced the participants to jail terms: life in the case of the organiser and killer. They were tried and acquitted in 2009 but the Supreme Court ordered a re-trial. It is widely believed that the murder was ordered by a “mastermind” who has never been found or named.